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Subject: Loammi Baldwin by Dr. Samuel A. Green
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:11:17 EST

Subject: Loammi Baldwin
Source: Groton Historical Series by Dr. Samuel A. Green Vol III 1893

p.293-294

Loammi Baldwin was the third son and fourth child of Loammi and Mary (Fowle)
Baldwin, and born at Woburn, on May 16, 1780. He fitted for college at
Westford Academy, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1800. On
leaving Cambridge he entered the office of the Hon. Timothy Bigelow of Groton for
the study of law, and was admitted to the Middlesex bar in September, 1803.
During the next year he establishedhimself as a lawyer in Cambridge; but the
pursuit of his profession was never congenial to his tastes. At the end of
three years he gave up his chosen calling and began the study of civil
engineering, for which he had a remarkable aptitude, still keeping his residence at
Cambridge.

At an early age his fondness for the mechanical arts was very marked,and
even while in college, with his own hands, he made a clock, which kept excellent
time, and was the wonder of his classmates; and while at Groton he
constructed for the town a fire-engine, which is still in active use (1893). From an
unsuccessful lawyer he became a distinquished engineer, whose work for the
United States Government at various places is a lasting monument to his
professional skill. In 1835 he was a member of the Executive Council, and in 1836 a
Presidential Elector on the Whig ticket, when the Electoral vote of
Massachusetts was cast on December 7, for Daniel Webster. He died at Charlestown on
June 30, 1838.

On May 19, 1816, Mr. Baldwin was married in Boston, first, to Ann,
daughter of George and Lydia (Pickering) Williams, of that city, who died on
April 22, 1821; and on June 22, 1828, in Charlestown, secondly, to Mrs.
Catharine (Williams) Beckford, (daughter of Samuel Williams, an American banker
living in London, and widow of Captain Thomas Beckford,) who died at
Charlestown, on May 3, 1864.

p.206 of "An Historical Sketch of Groton, MA by Dr. Samuel A. Green
1894 - "The Groton Fire Department" - says of Loammi Baldwin:

While following his studies here at Groton, a house, situated just south of
the Groton Academy grounds, was burned down in the winter time and there was
no fire engine to stop it. The neighbors had to fight the flames as best
they could, with snow as well as water. By this incident he became so impressed
with the need of an engine in Groton,that with his own hands he contructed
the first one the town ever had.

This machine known for a long time as "Torrent No. 1" is still serviceable
after a use of more than eighty eight years, and will throw a stream of water
over the highest roof in the town. It was made in Jonathan Loring's shop,
then opposite to Mr. Boynton's blacksmith shop, where the iron work was done.
The tub was of copper, and bears the date "1802." Loammi Baldwin, soon after
this time, gave up the practice of law and became distinguished in his new
profession.

The following description of the engine is found in "The Firemen's
Standard" Boston - for April 1884:

"The old machine has a quaint appearance with its copper tub on which is
inscribed its name, "Torrent No. 1," and its ancient tool box which
bears the date of its birth "1802". The said tub is three feet six
inches long, two feet two inches wide, and twenty two inches deep. On
its bottom rests an oak plank in which are set the valves and in which
stand the brass cyhlinders and air chamber, the former of which being
each five inches in diameter and sixteen inches high. A gooseneck
on the top of the air chamber serves as the outlet for the water and a
reel is attached to the hind part of the tub capable of carrying one
hundred feet of two inch hose, the first supply of which was made at
the harness shop and sewed with waxed thread." (p.4)

Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth


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